d book. It didn't sweep me off my feet, but I did enjoy it. It's told through the POV's of the divorced couple and their adult children. The ex-husband has decided to try internet dating. It doesn't go well, so of course, it's the women's faults. They lied. Hmmm. Lying on dating profiles? Who would have guessed? (sarcasm) If he didn't lie on his, he definitely left out a lot. Like that he is opinionated and given to cynicism.
Meanwhile his wife of 36 years had enough of his nonsense and moved out. She chose a tiny apartment and left him with the big house. She landed a job in the library at the university and discovered her independence. Which involved a new guy. (oh well. Some people have trouble letting a woman live her life without a man)
This leads us to the daughter. Her 'man' is married. Ugh! She is a character that is hard to like, but towards the end of the book, she grows on me.
And then we have the son. He has a new baby. Although the baby's mother has a high powered job, they seem to be balancing everything okay. (or are they?)
A good story with well-developed characters.
#LateBloomers #NetGalley

Approaching 60 years of age, Suresh is shocked when his wife, Lana, files for divorce. We meet them not too long after, when each are trying to figure out how to be single - and debating forays into dating.

As each comes to terms with the ups and downs of their new lives, we find their adult children Priya and Nikesh, have secrets and love drama of their own.

I loved this story - the perspective of the four family members, how they interact, and the memorable people in their lives with their own stories. It's a great soon-to-be-summer read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC.

This was a very enjoyable book that didn't read like a debut novel. It is told from the perspective of the main family, Lata, Suresh, Priya, & Nikesh. Lata & Suresh are going through the divorce process after being married 36 years. It was an arranged marriage & Lata decides the time has come for her to move on to something else. She gets a job at a college library & makes friends there, including a gentleman, Len, that wants to ask her out. Suresh starts on-line dating & drives all over the place looking for another Indian woman to take care of him. Priya is dating a married man & trying to figure out what she wants out of her life while dealing with her parents divorce. Nikesh lives in Brooklyn (the rest of the family is in Texas) with his girlfriend & their child, He has told his parents that they're married, but that's a lie. Highly recommend reading this book to see how their stories unfold.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

I really enjoyed this family and its quest for love. Priya and Nikesh's parents had an unsuccessful arranged marriage. They stayed together, but eventually got divorced. Suresh is trying online dating, and driving all over Texas to meet Indian women. Lata finds herself working at a library and navigating singleness as an older adult. Priya, working at a college, is dating a man that is seemingly off limits and Nikesh is living with his partner and son in New York. Hijinks ensue as the family gathers at the family home to celebrate Nikesh's son's first birthday. I really enjoyed this look at this Indian family in Texas and their quest to find and redefine their family again.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley.

Wow, this was such a great read and honestly didn’t read as a debut. I loved Lata and was honestly impressed by her brave decision to chart a new path for herself. If I’m being honest, I didn’t really care too much for Suresh’s chapters. The best way I can describe him is ridiculous and it was hard for me to feel invested in his story.

This read like a family sitcom/dramedy and there were so many laugh out loud moments. This one has all the makings of an instant best seller!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Review posted to my bookstagram on Monday, April 10, 2023.

Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan was a quick, heartwarming book about an Indian American family navigating the ups and downs of love and life. It has four viewpoints/narrators, so you get everyone's story and perception. I enjoyed this debut novel by Deep Varadarajan and look forward to reading more by this talented author. And that cover is really eye-catchingly cute!

I thoroughly enjoyed this fun book. Told from differing perspectives we learn about Late and Suresh and the aftermath of their divorce after 36 years of marriage. The tow of them along with their grown are trying to navigate what life will be life now that their family unit has broken apart. I found the story to be very realistic. Late and Suresh are a couple in their mid to late 50's who came together in an arranged marriage. As the years went by, instead of coming together, Late and Suresh find that they are not a great match. Never having entered the world of dating, both of them are trying to navigate their relationship with one another as well as their relationships with their grown children They are also trying to navigate the process of dating - a concept that is entirely foreign to them Their daughter Priya and son Nikesh are dealing with their own relationship issues. I was laughing out loud at certain parts. A very fun read.. thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Interesting story about an Indian family suffering through the divorce of the patriarchs of the family. Each chapter is told from the viewpoint of one of the characters. Characters are relatable. All very likable and you wind up pulling for each one of them.

Is it ever too late to try again to find love?

In Late Bloomers, we meet the four members of the Indian-American Raman family in Texas: Suresh and Lata, the newly divorced parents, and their adult daughter and son, Priya and Nikesh. Suresh is bewildered to find himself alone at the age of 59, and has decided to embrace the modern age and find love on the internet. He is not the most positive person, and has not had much luck; as he tells Nikesh early in the novel, “All these internet women lie, I tell you,”. Suresh himself is only guilty of what he calls RDT’s, reasonable deviations from the truth, while the women he has met have lied about things large (whether or not they have children, what they do for a living) and small (what their favorite food is). But he is determined to be more successful in this endeavor than he was at his marriage, and he forges on. When he meets a lovely young woman named Mallika, he thinks he might just have found a match….until she cancels a date and stops responding to his calls. Lata, who was the one to initiate the divorce, is enjoying her newfound independence. Her marriage had been an arranged affair, and she realized that while Suresh was not a horrible person….he was not abusive, was not an alcoholic, did not cheat on her….she just didn’t like him much at all. After 36 years of altering her behaviors to suit him, and making apologies to their friends for his gloomy behavior, she had had enough. She has her own apartment, has a job working at the music library of a local college, and is rediscovering the person that she was before her marriage. So when, much to her surprise, a library patron and professor of the history of jazz named Len Greenberg displays interest in getting to know her better, she isn’t sure that she wants to pursue things. When she told him that she had never listened to jazz,, he burns her a CD of classic jazz songs, and later invites her to join him at a jazz concert. She loves the music on her CD, and with the encouragement of her young co-worker Deanna, she thinks she might just have her first real date after all. Priya is not at all happy in her life. She is teaching history at a small college in Austin, where she is not sure she will get tenure or even have her contract renewed, given declining enrollments. Much to her parents’ chagrin, she is unmarried at the age of 35, and her current romantic relationship is with a married man….which means that she comes up short when compared to her brother Nikesh, a successful lawyer living in NYC with his wife Denise and their baby son. She is beyond mortified that her father is scouring the internet for love, and has let him know of her feelings in no uncertain terms. When she discovers that her lover’s marriage is not in fact on the verge of ending, and he is not likely to leave his wife for her after all, she retreats to her mother’s apartment to reevaluate her life. Nikesh, who seems to have it all, is also not in a happy place in his life. He doesn’t actually enjoy his job all that much, and parenthood has put a strain on his relationship with Denise. They are both exhausted and stressed, and have no time for one another. He loves their son Alok dearly, but family life is not going well. He hopes that having the three of them fly out to Texas to celebrate Alok’s first birthday with his family (who don’t really care for Denise, nor does she like them much) will make things better all around….but it might just be the last straw for Denise.
The story of these four people, stymied in their search for love and happiness, is told with sympathy and more than a little humor. The horror of children contemplating the romantic life of their parents is something with which many of us can sympathize. The unintended competition between siblings, the unwarranted jealousy when a former partner seems to have succeeded in moving on, and the reality of what goes on behind the facade of people living the perfect life are common life experiences to most people. How these four lives collide, at what is either the worst possible time (can you imagine summoning the courage to go out on a date for the first time in your fifties, and then having your daughter move in?) or the best possible time, and how each person deals with the obstacles and choices that confront them make for an engaging and worthwhile read. The differences between immigrant parents and their American-born children extends beyond the Indian culture described in Late Bloomers, so this book would appeal to many readers. Fans of Soniah Kamal and Sonali Devi will find this novel of interest, as would those who enjoy Imbolo Mbue and Jean Kwok. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy.

Late Bloomers is the story of a family, that after 30 years of marriage, the parents decide to divorce. It affects the whole family, and the story tells what they each went through when it happened, and what they went through after the divorce.
There were struggles for them all, misunderstandings, and as they each struggled to figure out where they go from here, we see how hard it was for them. They each have to decide for themselves what is going to happen, and sometimes it is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It is a difficult path trying to find themselves again, and become who they will become. Divorce is a loss that changes who you were, who you are and who you will become.
I received an ARC from Random House Publishing Group through NetGalley.

Late Bloomers explores the members of a family and how they relate to each other and their respective relationships and struggles.
Suresh and Lata had an arranged marriages and recently divorced after decades of marriage and both are now on the dating scene again, which is full of weird people and not what either of them expected to be doing at this point in life, but here they are. Suresh is meeting women through dating websites, and meets Malika, who ends up coming to stay with him and bringing her son when she has no where else to go, despite them only having been on one date.
Their daughter Priya is dating a married man and their son has had a child but isn’t married, although he told his parents that they were married and told his girlfriend that he told his parents that they weren’t.
All around, there’s a lack of communication, loads of judgment, and a need for understanding.
I liked the writing style but the characters were hard to like. I think that was intentional, though. And maybe it could have been a little shorter.
Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

A South Asian (Indian) debut writer talking about middle aged immigrants starting fresh in the US of A/ Sign me up for a ARC. Thank you net Galley for my advance copy in exchange of a honest review.

Deepa Varadarajan has written a nuanced, thoughtful story about second chances. I found myself rooting for all the characters in the story except Suresh probably. Different cultures, perspectives and generational viewpoints made this a great read. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I found Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan to have a slow start, but in the end, it was fairly readable. The writing was good, but for me, the book's issue was that I didn't find a single character likeable. That made it a bit tougher to appreciate. As a first-time novelist, I would be interested to see more from Varadarajan in the future. Two and a half stars. Solid, just not my cup of tea.

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved the family dynamic, the struggles of being 'other' in America - even for the children - and in particular the final scene that turned the whole thing into a French farce.

Warm and sweet debut about a family figuring how to navigate their days and their relationships following the divorce of the parents and the chaotic and messy lives of their grown children.

Late Bloomers is the story of the Raman family - an Indian family comprised of a mother, father, adult daughter, and adult son. Except the mother and father have separated in their middle age and the adult childrens' personal lives are a complicated mess. The set-up sounds like it should be miserable, and yet the story absolutely sparkles. It's full of joy and love and quiet contemplation and insights so relatable that I found myself highlighting so many passages!

The story is told through multiple perspectives and the author does an absolutely incredible job of distinguishing each character by little idiosyncrasies in their voice and insights into their way of seeing the world. It's character-driven, and you find yourself really rooting for each of protagonists and not wanting to leave them behind once you close the book.

Just a radiant and delicious little slice of life read. Highly recommend!

Late Bloomers is a debut novel about an Indian American family. It begins with parents who have divorced after over thirty years of marriage, and is told in alternating points of view between each of the four family members: Suresh, the grumpy father who is determined to make on-line dating work; Lata, the mother who is exploring her newfound independence; and Priya and Nikesh, their grown children – who have complicated lives of their own.

This was a pleasant story of a family learning each other’s secrets, accepting each other’s flaws, and moving on in their lives. The story takes place over only three weeks, which seemed a little rushed to me. On the other hand, everything isn’t wrapped up neatly at the end.

I received an ARC from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

This was a funny little book and different too, both in a good way. The characters are easy to identify with as they have the usual problems any family has. I loved how honest and real they all were and I enjoyed that they each had their individual voices heard. I felt sympathy for them and could easily connect with them and their issues. I was hoping for the best for them and cheering them on.
There were various topics discussed within the pages that many of us can relate to, not just Indian families...divorce, infidelity, online dating, children out of wedlock, parental expectations etc. The topics were dealt with in an authentic way and sometimes I just had to laugh at the antics.

The different perspectives are clear, concise and done very well. This is basically a book about life in general, how to be happy and be part of a family and learn to forgive with some surprises along the way. I liked that it showed how life for immigrants is different that their children who are born in their new homeland. This was a loveable mess of a family and I enjoyed the time I spent with them.

First and foremost, I would like to disclose that I was provided a digital ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Late Bloomers centers around a family of four: Suresh and Lata, who are divorced from one another, and their adult children Priya and Nikesh. The chapters, alternating in turns from each of their perspectives, follow their lives through their various romantic relationships, and provides insight into the personalities, relationship structures, and thoughts of each one.

Late Bloomers is not a book that I would typically reach for on the shelf in a store, as I am not usually drawn to books that seem to focus on romance. But I am happy to admit when I'm wrong, and I am very glad that I read this book. Varadarajan's ability to get into the heads of the characters, and to provide a perspective not too strongly influenced by her own writing style, is impressive. At many points I had to take a small break from reading because a piece of wisdom casually thrown into the text made me pause and reflect.

While I am not in any of the situations the characters are dealing with in the book, I have been witness to many messy relationships in the lives of those around me and been affected by the way those relationships took course. Varadarajan may have as well, or at the very least is great at writing as if she has borne witness to these types of relationships firsthand. Her insightful glimpses into relationships falling apart, feeling stuck in something comfortable, and the dynamics of a family who are all imperfect and messy and broken all hit close to my heart.

Very mild, vague spoilers below: (the next paragraph of review is hidden on goodreads, so please skip if you're not interested in any sort of spoiler, even terribly vague ones)

I also appreciated that the story did not wrap up neatly with a nice bow. Some situations resolved, and others were left not fully certain. My one wish was for Suresh to have grown more as a character. After a while, I found his reactions and justifications to things a little frustrating and predictable, but that does not mean he wasn't well-written; only that I wished for him to change throughout the story in the same amount that the other characters changed and grew. I wished for him to have a tangible show of progress like all the other characters - but I will acknowledge that people learning and growing at their own varied paces is more akin to real life.

If you love characters that feel human and real, or tales about people's lives in various states of messy drama, or a book that's easy to read but also casually drops life-lessons and wisdom on you while being kind of funny, you will definitely enjoy this book.

"Late Bloomers" is a touching, humorous and compelling novel that follows the lives of a Indian-American family as they navigate love in all its forms. We follow the story of Suresh and Lata Raman, a couple who recently divorced after thirty-six years of an unhappy arranged marriage, and their children Nikesh and Priya, as they all embark on new paths in their lives. Suresh attempts online dating and meets a younger woman, while Lata enjoys her newfound independence and is surprised when a professor starts flirting with her. Meanwhile, their daughter Priya disapproves of her father's online pursuits while engaging in a secret affair, and their son hides the truth about his seemingly perfect marriage. Over the course of three weeks, the family will uncover each other's secrets, confront the limits of love and loyalty, and explore second chances in life. The novel introduces a new voice in fiction, charming, funny, and moving, and follows the four individuals as they attempt to find happiness both in their own lives and as a family.

Deepa Varadarajan skillfully blends modern-day issues with traditional family values, creating a relatable and compelling story of a family's struggle to find happiness in a rapidly changing world. The characters are complex and lovable, each with their own distinctive voice, secrets and desires. Although each of the characters have their own flaws, the author instils them with intelligence and compassion and at the end we come to realize that everyone is doing the best they can, given what they knew and the cards they were dealt. "Late Bloomers" is a tender exploration of family dynamics, personal growth, and the possibility for change, and is sure to make readers laugh and cry in equal parts. I didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters and would not have opposed to another 200 pages of their stories! Overall, it is a heartwarming and enjoyable read that offers a refreshing perspective on both the struggles and triumphs of the immigrant experience and family life in contemporary America.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for sharing an advanced digital copy with me in exchange for an honest review! “Late Bloomers” comes out May 2nd, 2023!